Ontario the place to hook up salmon

Fishing action across the Poconos can sometimes take a downturn during the heat of the summer. The hot sun drives water temperatures up, dissolved oxygen levels go down and fish can go almost dormant.

Fishing action across the Poconos can sometimes take a downturn during the heat of the summer. The hot sun drives water temperatures up, dissolved oxygen levels go down and fish can go almost dormant.

Other places however, can see the action crank up at this time, and anglers looking to kick it up a notch need only head north a few short hours. Lake Ontario has an abundance of king salmon that are happy to attack a bait during the mid-summer heat.

To get to the treasure trove take Route 81 to the Port of Oswego. There are a number of charter boats available here. My experience is with Captain Ernie Lantiegne, who runs Fish Doctor Charters and Captain Tony Buffa who operates the Bandito III.

All you have to do is get there and bring whatever you want for a lunch or soft drinks on board. The captains provide all the gear and more importantly, all the knowledge and experience.

The action can be fast and furious, and one can usually expect to bring some fish home. This trip is especially made for a family gathering and the perfect way to spend a day or two of your summer vacation with the kids.

Captain Tony Buffa told me this week, Just add water, A-TOM-MIK flies, and depths of 120 to 300 feet off of Oswego Harbor and you have the recipe for catching king salmon on Lake Ontario.

What a remarkable season so far! Angler satisfaction is at an all time high. Charter captains are trolling with confidence and results; and Oswego County is having its best salmon season in decades.

Captain Ernie Lantiegne has never failed to have us sharing high fives with giant kings coming on board. He reports that last week that he had anglers hooked up five minutes out of harbor and leaving for home with limits consistently.

"It has been that way almost every trip in June, both morning and afternoon, and the action has continued through July," Lantiegne said. "Between the fin-clipped stocked kings and the kings in the population from natural reproduction, I don't think I've see this many kings caught in the month of June since I first started fishing the lake in the spring of 1978. By mid-August, as Coho salmon move into the southeast corner of Lake Ontario and mix with the king salmon already in the area, action should get even hotter."

Call or email now for available dates to plan your trip as the bookings fill up fast this time of year! Contact Captain Tony Buffa, 9037 Lucas Rd., Bridgeport, NY 13030, cell: (315) 427-2278, captaintonybuffafishingcharters.com or email; capntony@twcny.rr.com.